In the Why Rural Matters Report - 2023, Oklahoma’s rural districts are ranked eighth highest priority in the United States.

More than half of our public schools serve rural communities, and its students are among the most diverse in the United States in terms of race, special education needs, poverty, and residential instability. Only five states spend less than our state’s $5,614 per rural pupil on instruction, and adjusted teacher salaries are nearly $11,000 below the U.S. average.

Access to learning and development support is a critical concern, with among the highest state rates of rural families without broadband access (11th highest), uninsured rural children (12th highest), and the ratio of students per psychologist/school counselor (17th highest).